Vodafone Idea (Vi), one of India's leading telecom operators, has announced significant changes to its affordable prepaid plans, adjusting validity periods and data allowances to reshape its offering in the competitive telecom market.

Changes in Popular Plans

₹189 Plan

• Old Offering: 28 days validity, 1GB data
• New Offering: 26 days validity, 2GB data
• Unchanged Benefits: Unlimited calling, 300 SMS

Vodafone Idea has reduced the validity of its ₹189 plan by two days, bringing it down to 26 days from the previous 28 days. However, to compensate for the reduced validity, the company has doubled the data offering from 1GB to 2GB. The plan continues to provide unlimited calling and 300 SMS benefits.

₹98 Plan

• Old Offering: 14 days validity
• New Offering: 10 days validity
• Unchanged Benefits: Unlimited calling, 200MB data

The ₹98 plan has seen a more significant reduction in validity, dropping from 14 days to 10 days. Despite the shorter duration, Vi has maintained the plan's other benefits, including unlimited calling and 200MB of data.

Platform Discrepancies

It's worth noting that while these changes are reflected on Vi's official website and the Paytm platform, PhonePe still displays the older 28-day validity for the ₹189 plan. This discrepancy suggests that the rollout of the new plan structure may be in progress across different platforms.

Alternative Options

For users looking for different combinations of validity and data, Vodafone Idea offers alternative plans:

1. ₹218 Plan:

   • One month validity
   • 4GB data

2. ₹95 Plan:

   • 14 days validity
   • 4GB data
   • Includes SonyLIV subscription

These alternative plans provide options for users who prioritize either longer validity or more data, depending on their usage patterns.

Market Implications

The revision of these prepaid plans by Vodafone Idea reflects the ongoing adjustments in the highly competitive Indian telecom market. By reducing validity periods while increasing data allowances in some cases, Vi appears to be balancing the need to maintain revenue streams with the demand for more data among consumers.

As the telecom landscape continues to evolve, customers are advised to carefully review the terms of their prepaid plans and consider their usage patterns to select the most suitable option. The introduction of value-added services like the SonyLIV subscription in the ₹95 plan also indicates a trend towards bundling content services with mobile plans to enhance customer value proposition.

Vodafone Idea (Vi) shares experienced a significant uptick, surging by 7% in recent trading, catching investors' attention despite no immediate apparent trigger for the sharp spike. The telecom giant's stock has shown positive momentum, gaining ground in eight out of the last twelve trading sessions and three out of the last four sessions.

Supreme Court Admits AGR Petition

In a crucial development, the Supreme Court has admitted Vodafone Idea's petition regarding Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) dues. The government, which holds a substantial 49% equity stake in the company, stated that it does not oppose the plea but is seeking a solution. This admission by the apex court could potentially pave the way for some relief for the debt-laden telecom operator. The hearing for this matter is scheduled for September 26, which investors and industry watchers will be closely monitoring.

Citi Issues 'High-Risk' Buy Rating

Adding to the positive sentiment, Citi has issued a 'high-risk' buy rating for Vodafone Idea shares, setting a price target of ₹10.00. The global financial services firm cited increased chances of potential relief following the Supreme Court's admission of the AGR plea and the government's supportive stance as key factors for their bullish outlook.

Stock Performance

As of the latest trading session, Vodafone Idea shares were trading 5.1% higher at ₹8.81, after touching an intraday high of ₹8.97. The stock's recent performance reflects growing investor optimism about the company's prospects.

Government Stake and Support

It's worth noting that the Indian government became the largest shareholder in Vodafone Idea with a 49% stake after converting some of the company's dues to equity. Telecom officials have stated that there is no intention to increase the government's stake beyond the current 49%. This move underscores the government's commitment to supporting the struggling telecom operator and maintaining a competitive telecom market in India.

The upcoming Supreme Court hearing and potential government actions will be crucial in determining Vodafone Idea's future trajectory. Investors and industry observers will be keenly watching for any developments that could impact the company's financial health and market position in the highly competitive Indian telecom sector.